Find out how the O'Brien family had an unlikely hand in the breeding of Kameko

Kameko, one of 14 top-level performers by US turf sire extraordinaire Kitten's Joy, proved a cut above his rivals when landing the opening Classic of the British season, the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The colt, who won the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at two, is owned by Qatar Racing, whose silks were previously carried by Kitten's Joy's highest-rated runner to date, the much-missed Roaring Lion.

Kameko got the better of the Aidan O'Brien-trained Wichita, a son of No Nay Never, by a neck, though was value for a greater margin of superiority.

Although the master of Ballydoyle missed out on training the winner of this year's 2,000 Guineas, his family did have a hand in breeding the rising star.

Qatar Racing's journey with Kameko began at the same place their involvement with Roaring Lion started, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, with racing manager David Redvers paying what now looks a bargain sum of $90,000 for the youngster when he was offered by Paramount Sales.

Kitten's Joy: the Hill 'n' Dale Farms resident stood the 2020 season at a fee of $75,000

Bred by Calumet Farm, Kameko is the fifth foal out of Sweeter Still, a daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar formerly trained at Ballydoyle and bred by O'Brien's wife, Annemarie. Sweeter Still finished fourth in the Listed Flame of Tara Stakes at two but enjoyed greater success after switching to the US, most notably when winning the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes for Jeff Mullins.

Despite her evident talent as a broodmare, Sweeter Still, a half-sister to Racing Post Trophy scorer Kingsbarns and the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial winner Belle Artiste, boasts a wildly varied sales history.

In 2014 she was bought by Royal Oak Farm for $750,000 at the Keeneland January Sale, but transferred to the ownership of Calumet Farm for a mere $35,000 in November 2016.

Even more remarkably, she was then sold on to T Lesley Thompson for only $1,500 in November 2018 when carrying to Optimizer, just two months after Redvers purchased Kameko.

Her 2019 yearling - a daughter of Big Blue Kitten, and therefore a close relation to Kameko - was bought by Atlantic Bloodstock for just $5,000 last September.

The filly is entered in the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale, due to be held in Doncaster on July 1, where she will be consigned by Church Farm and Horse Park Stud.

Kameko's victory also provided Rock Of Gibraltar with his first Classic success as a broodmare sire. Fittingly, he achieved that feat in a race he himself won in 2002 when beating Hawk Wing.

The son of Danehill is the damsire of five Group/Grade 1 winners, with Kameko joined by Belvoir Bay, Line Of Duty, Mikki Isle and Photo Call.

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